The collection at the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum includes the research library of books and journals, and also memoranda and reports of the scientific and technical research projects undertaken by the Linen Industry Research Association (LIRA) throughout its existence.
The collection at the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum includes the research library of books and journals, and also memoranda and reports of the scientific and technical research projects undertaken by the Linen Industry Research Association (LIRA) throughout its existence. The Linen Industry Research Association, Lambeg, Lisburn was a government research centre founded in 1921 for the study of textiles, especially linen. LIRA closed in 1993. Its collection was the outcome of specialist collecting and research documentation over the lifetime of the institution.
The specificity of the collection is its principal strength. In addition, there are significant quantities of nineteenth century and twentieth century (mainly unbroken) textile journal runs. There are also rare eighteenth and nineteenth century pamphlets and books on linen production and agriculture in the British Isles and Europe.
There are approximately 5,000 books, journals, reports and memoranda in the LIRA Collection.
An on-line catalogue is due to be completed in 2002.